A Validation Study of Force Sense Measurement

A Validation Study of Force Sense Measurement With a New Instrument

The term proprioception was first introduced by Sherrington in 1906, who described it as a type of feedback from the limbs to the central nervous system. Based on the early descriptions by Sherrington and others, the contemporary terms of joint position sense (JPS), kinaesthesia (perception of active and passive motion), and sense of tension or force sense are considered sub modalities of proprioception.

For the extremity joints, goniometers (universal, bubble, digital) can also be used to measure active JPS. Depending on the device used and the extremity joint measured, reliability and measurement error of active movement goniometry can range widely and this should be carefully considered if goniometry is used to measure active JPS of extremity joints. Kinesthesia, can be measured by calculating the passive motion detection threshold of individuals.

The force sense (FS), commonly assessed using force reproduction, has also been used as a measure of proprioception. Assessing force reproduction by limb matching involves the use of a reference force, usually determined as a percentage of a Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVIC), and attempting to replicate that force.

Proprioception can be decreased in those who suffer from knee injury. Because patients with severe degenerative joint disease often require total knee arthroplasty to relieve pain, improve stability, and restore function. Due to problems such as oedema, immobilization and subjective pain after surgery, it is difficult to evaluate proprioception with joint repositioning method. In such cases, the assessment of FS could be of particular interest in the knee region. FS can also be measured by the accuracy of reproducing a specific target force. For example, the pressure biofeedback device (PBD) used for assessing the cranio-cervical flexion test could be considered a method of assessing force sense in the cervical spine. The ability to hold steadily or the accuracy in achieving and maintaining a desired pressure can be used. However, for the knee region, there is no method to measure the force sense via a device that can be used in clinical practice.

The aim of this study was to establish a method for measuring FS that could be applied quickly and practically in the clinic, and to correlate the outcomes with surface electromyographic (EMG) muscle activation levels from M. Quadriceps femoris to demonstrate the applicability and objectivity of this method.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Knee Injuries; Proprioceptive Disorders
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Test protocol for proprioceptive force sense in case group

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 30

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Altindag
    • Ankara, Altindag, Turkey, 06030
      • Ceyhun Türkmen

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 35 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy individuals without chronic knee problems were included in the study.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• without chronic knee problems
• without chronic neurologic problems
• without chronic rheumatological problems
• without cognitive problems

Exclusion Criteria:

• Osteoporosis

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Intervention / Treatment

Case Group; Our study was performed with 30 healthy individuals at Hacettepe University, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation. The FS of the knee joint was measured with a Pressure Biofeedback Device (Stabilizer ™, Chattanooga Group Inc., Chattanooga, TN), a device similar to a sphygmomanometer. To correlate the outcomes of biofeedback device, simultaneously, a surface electromyography (EMG) data of M. Quadriceps femoris muscle activation levels from the individuals were recorded.

Other: Test protocol for proprioceptive force sense in case group; The FS in the knee region was measured by the pressure, biofeedback device (Stabilizer ™, Chattanooga Group Inc., Chattanooga, TN).; Surface EMG device (Noraxon USA, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ) was used to measure activation levels of M. Vastus Medialis Obliquus (VMO), M. Vastus Lateralis (VL) and M. Rectus Femoris (RF) muscles. Due to the characteristics of the Bipolar Ag/AgCl surface electrodes, the distance between the electrodes was set to 1 cm and the electrode width to 2 cm. The electrode placement was determined according to the SENIAM (Surface ElectroMyoGraphy for the Non-Invasive Assessment of Muscles) criteria.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Measurement of force sensations in mmHg with "Pressure Biofeedback Device" Measurement of Force Sense in mmHg with "Pressure Biofeedback Device"	First, the participants were positioned on the exercise bed. Then, the pressure biofeedback device was placed under the knee joint on the dominant lower extremity side and the cuff was inflated to a pressure of 20 mmHg. Before the measurement, the participants were told to press their knees to the ground and thus to bring the M.Quadriceps femoris into maximum isometric contraction. 50% and 65% of this maximum value obtained for each individual were recorded as reference values for measuring the force sense error of knee region.	Participants are evaluated only once in 45 minutes.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hacettepe University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 15, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): December 15, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 19, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 21, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): February 25, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 8, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 6, 2021
• Last Verified: April 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: proprioception; surface EMG; knee joint; sphygmomanometer; force sense
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Wounds and Injuries; Leg Injuries; Sensation Disorders; Knee Injuries; Somatosensory Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: GO 18/932

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No